There are many opinions out there on Pit Bulls, from media coverage, to a pair of old fellas at the diner talking during breakfast. What's Your opinion on them?:watching:

08-12-2009, 02:13 PM

Mr.clean

Bully dogs are only as aggressive as the owner teaches them to be.Although Vikings used to use pits as frontline warriors(Allthough they did use a couple of breeds,the pits consisted of 8/10's of there dog army),Unleash the dogs and run right behind em.Only as mean as they are taught.Mine dont have a mean bone in there body.

08-12-2009, 02:51 PM

Todd

I had a pit mix for three days before he got parvo and we had to put him down. He was a great dog, although he was only a puppy. I think the breed gets a bad rep because losers/wanna be gang bangers/ "tough guys" have them so they get associated with that type of person and lifestyle. And let's not forget that these losers use them as fighting dogs, so the image gets hurt more.

I watch a lot of Dog Whisperer and do agree with Cesar that any of the stronger breeds like Bullies, Shepherds, Rotties, etc, need an owner that will set limits or else the dogs, by their nature, will attempt to become dominant more then say a Shit Sue Punt-a-pet (yes, I know I speeeeled it wrong).

08-12-2009, 03:30 PM

wkister029

I have owned quite a few Pitbulls in the past and have found them to be very loyal and very playful, they really don't have a mean bone in them naturally, but I have seen some that were trained to be that way.

08-12-2009, 04:04 PM

JeffWard

I've been around dogs my whole life, from pits, to labs, to shepards.

Around people, pits are no more aggressive than any breed, as long as they are trained as pets. My best friend has two.

Around other dogs, pits have a loose wire... a bad one. They seem to snap a LOT faster and more often at other dogs.

Some dogs instinctively are better hunters, labs, pointers, etc. Some dogs instinctively are "mousers" like terriers, Jack Russels, etc... Some dogs are instinctively more aggressive like pits. They're not trained to be nasty, its hard wired.

Jeff Ward

08-12-2009, 04:06 PM

Bisley

Bulldogs are more dangerous than most other breeds because they are just so damn tough, and relentless, once they decide to fight.

I grew up with bulldogs, have raised them from puppies, and have even re-trained one that the owner gave me, so he would not have to have him destroyed. They are good dogs, but if one has been abused, or improperly trained, the wise thing to do is just destroy it, because they are just too damn tough to deal with, and cannot be trusted.

You can raise one to be gentle, from a puppy, and he will probably protect you and the family with his life, for his entire life. But, just never forget what they were bred to do, and what they are capable of. I am a firm believer that no dog should ever be left alone with small kids.

08-12-2009, 05:34 PM

Tuefelhunden

I think they mostly get a bad rap. Media doesn't fixate on the cute and cuddly but rather the dangerous and shocking. Never known one personally. I will say due to their physical characteristics I think Pit Bulls are dangerous or maybe a better way to put it is a calculated risk. Power output potential at adult hood is pretty hard to contest. I agree that their nature and how they or any breed interacts with other animals or people has much to do with training and whether they have been abused or loved.

I tend to be a big fan of all dogs and most seem to take to me as well. I have 2 Golden Retrievers currently and it's a rare occurance I meet a dog I don't like or doesn't like me. As a kid I was actually bitten twice by dogs. Once by a small poodle on the ankle for daring to walk by his house and once by a much larger dog (breed unknown) on the side of my jaw/throat when I accidentally stepped on his paw (presumably) when I gave him a hug. I was about 8 at the time. Neither incident jaded my opinion then or now of dogs. I like them, always have and always will. I do think it is worth taking into account power potential however.

If that had been a Pit bull (or insert your formidable breed of choice here) that bit my jaw as a tot would I have just gotten the 20 stitches and an ice cream cone for my troubles or would I be dead or maimed? I do know that I could step on the foot of either one of my 80lb retrievers as an adult and get nothing more than a hurt look and maybe a yelp. That is thier instinctive reaction. I don't think their is any such thing as a bad evil breed out there. I really don't. But I do think one has to carefully weigh their own risk tolerence and make an educated decision. I don't think pits are inherently bad. But they have some features and dynamics due to no fault of their own that certainly make them more of a risk than some other breeds. Not necessarily a negative but this is not a plug and play dog you leave to it's own devises. Many breeds aren't.

For those who keep Pit Bulls because they think that they are the badest of the bad and like that persona I have some bad news. They are not. That title belongs to the Bull Mastiff. Whenever you have an animal that can cleanly seperate the head from the shoulders of a full size police trained German Shepard in the blink of an eye with one decisive chomp as a freind of mines Mastiff did up in Seattle at a police academy a few years ago that is an eye opener. Mild mannered, mellow, love any human that loved him back. Regularily rode around the block with the UPS driver. 180lb lap kitty. Apparently didn't care for the biting and snarling business that Shepard tried to lay on him however.

08-12-2009, 11:00 PM

FatRotty

My Pit is fine, behaves well with my other dogs and children. I still watch how the kids play with her.
Don't let them ruffhouse with her.

I have been around pits all my life I now own two pits and a rott. My Pits are babies. They dont bark, they dont grow, they are just big lap dogs. My aunt and uncle breed pits and have never in all the years had one that turned on them or anyone that took them.

I have been bitten by a dog before and have scars from it, One was a lab yes a loveing lab that would never do that. Wrong it did. The owner use to beat the dog for barking or for running or anything. I get really upset when people say pits are bad. Not true ANY DOG CAN TURN ON YOU!!!! I have had many dogs in my life and I can tell you that most little dogs are worst to have then big dogs.

I leave my kids out in the yard every day with my pits and rott. If my kids go out of my sight one of the dogs wil come and sit by me then whine a little bit I will go to see what is going on. They do not leave my kids side one dog is always with them no matter what.

I was working in my garden last night. My two boys were playing in the yard. My youngest goes into the driveway where they are not alllowed to play to throw rocks. I can not see him due to my car being in the way. Blaze comes running to me and lays down then alex starts barking I go over to see what is up and my rott dozer is standing in front of my son not letting him go anywhere and alex is letting me know where he is at.

My kids ride our dogs like horses and they can walk with us on our nightly walk with out leashes. There is no bad breed only bad owners.

had a neighbor with a pit.
Sweet nice dog. Got along with my dog and others.

Then one day were all out meetning the pit and owner me and my lab and another guy with his Dalmatian.
Everything was fine.

Dalmatian guy and his dog go to leave.
For no reason pit goes after the spotted doggy. I mean tore into him.
3 of us trying to pull the pit off.

Dalmatian took 128 stitches to stop the bleeding.

It could have been my lab or any of us humans.
After that, I won't trust a pit.

AFS

08-13-2009, 02:28 PM

falchunt

AFS,

I am not disagreeing with you, or saying you are wrong in any way, just a simple question:

If your neighbors dog was a german shepard or a lab, would you feel the same way about not trusting that breed after the incident? I wonder if the over exposure of this specific breed in the media (all negative) subconciously altered your outlook on them. Think about it.

08-13-2009, 04:16 PM

Cope's Distributing

Quote:

Originally Posted by AirForceShooter

had a neighbor with a pit.
Sweet nice dog. Got along with my dog and others.

Ten one day were all out meaning the pit and owner me and my lab and another guy with his Dalmatian.
Everything id fine.

Dalmatian guy and his dog go to leave.
For no reason pit goes after the spotted doggy. I mean tore into him.
3 of us trying to pull the pit off.

Dalmatian took 128 stitches to stop the bleeding.

It could have been my lab or any of us humans.
After that, I won't trust a pit.

AFS

I have the same question. If the dog was a husky or boxer would you feel that way hate the breed?

08-13-2009, 04:37 PM

Mr.clean

Quote:

Originally Posted by falchunt

That is a great video mr clean!

WORD.When people say pits are dangerous,i tell them IGNORANCE is dangerous.

08-14-2009, 03:36 AM

DevilsJohnson

I had one until he was stolen. Great dog. Fantastic with children. The one difference I see between a pit and many other dogs of their size is they seem a little smarter and easier to train most the time. My best friend has one now. They are much like other large dogs. They need to understand where their place in the pack is. That is the same with all dogs really. Big dogs it's just a little more noticeable..They're BIG!. Bit with the proper time a Pit will become a great addition to the family. Also like most other dogs if you just toss it in the back yard and don't do anything with it they can feel dejected and will bark, chew up things, dig up the yard and sometimes act like a pain in the ass.

I personally like German Shepperd more but if the opportunity come around and I was able to get another Pit I would have to really think about it. You will not find a more loyal animal. But like all dogs you have to take the time to train it. Make it feel like it's part of your family. You will be paid back for that time many times over. They seem to learn things on their own that many other breeds wont. My friends will stay between him and any other person if he sees a pistol on their side. Unless he knows them pretty well. It seems to make him a little nervous. He wont get loud or try to get them. He will just make sure that he is between the gun wearer and his master. He loves all other dogs, even other dogs that have come around and given him trouble he wont attack them. He will run after them and when he gets tot hem he will run into them and make them fall over :buttkick: But that is about all. I've seen him get bit and not really do much about it. He will get them off of him then go about his business. The one I had was the same way.

When a Pit does something like attack another dog it seems to be a big deal. Much bigger than if it was some other breed of dog. I guess because they are big and people have given them a bad reputation. If the owner does work to make them fight yes, you have a bog problem on your hands. They can kill another dog pretty easily if they really wanted to. But that is not ingrained into the breed. I think it's just because they are big and scary that people don't like them. Kind of like liberals and black rifles. They are big and scary so we need to make sure we protect ourselves from them.

The Pit Bull is the AR 15 of the dog world.:smt083
:watching:

08-14-2009, 07:07 AM

AirForceShooter

I don't trust Boxers either.
Saw one of those go off.
I love Rotties and Dobies though and I've had shepards.

AFS

08-14-2009, 09:03 AM

falchunt

AFS, you did not answer the question at all, but it's OK. I think I get the picture.

Very well said DJ. I have never heard that analogy before but it really fits. I have noticed that my dogs have all been very very smart dogs. All 3 of my pits that I have had know/knew how to open my storm door on the porch, using the handle. That is just an example.

My take on Pit Bulls is this:
Pit Bulls are some of the most versatille dogs on the planet. They are abnormally athletic. Most often they are very strong. They are smarter than most breeds. They are very easy to train. They have the highest drive to please their owner of all breeds. It is a FACT that Pit Bulls have a low temperment. Cocker Spaniels have one of the highest. All of these are good traits.
All of these things together, are the exact reason that people, not the breed, have made poor decisions. People have used the good traits of a Pit Bull, for bad things such as fighting. Because bad people have abused and misused a good dog, ignorant people now view the breed as a dangerous and violent breed. This could not be further from the truth. If more of the general public got a chance to really know Pit Bulls, this would not be the case at all.

08-14-2009, 01:11 PM

kg333

My thoughts are mostly "bad owners, not bad breeds". I think it'd be a mistake to think pit bulls, Dobermans, and similar breeds don't have a certain natural aggression due to their origins, but it's certainly nothing that can't be handled by training.

The big issue I see with people who own Dobermans, rotts, and pit bulls is a lack of respect for the sheer size of the animals. These breeds are 80-90 pounds plus, and it's all muscle. I get extremely pissed off at people like my neighbors down the street, who stuck two rotties behind an electric fence in their front yard. I saw them out of their yard at least twice, once when I was walking my own dog past (80 pound Lab/Samoyed mix). They just wanted to sniff, apparently, but it still made me freak out, since they'd been back in the bushes in their yard and charged growling halfway across the street to get to me and pooch. I see these same dogs being walked by their owners' 6 year old daughter, who isn't even close to the size required to control one of these dogs if they get ancy.

If you're going to own a large dog like that, I think you should take the time to understand what you could potentially be taking on, instead of the "Daisy wouldn't hurt anyone" attitude I hear so often.

KG

08-14-2009, 01:48 PM

tekhead1219

How many attacks on neighbors and kids from Pit Bull's that are great, gentle dogs?

08-17-2009, 08:22 PM

JeffWard

My best friend owns a pit, and an American Bulldog. They are both the friendliest, sweetest dogs you ever met. Neither has ever snapped at a human. Both are VERY smart, well trained, and disciplined dogs. Great family dogs...

Until I took one for a walk in my mother's neighborhood, unfamiliar to the dog, where it encountered a Golden Retriever who is VERY docile, about 12 years old, and the same size as the pit. The two went nose to nose, and nose to rear, to sniff things out. Male Pit, female Golden...

With seemingly NO provocation, no sudden movements, and after 3 minutes of pleasant conversation, the Pit damn near removed the upper lip of the Golden. Took me 20-30 sec to separate the pit. The Golden was whimpering and trying to escape, with NO aggression. The Pit would NOT let go. I had to drive my fingers into his mouth and squeeze his lips against his teeth to get him to release (proper technique).

The dog just plain snapped, and attacked the other dog. I've never seen this in any other breed. Only heard of it in Akitas, and a few others. This is an isolated incident, but stereotype develop for reasons.

I love these dogs like my own. I've had them in my home for months on end. He would never bite me. But after that experience, I'd never take him around an unfamiliar dog. Period.

JefWard

08-18-2009, 10:16 AM

Bisley

Years ago, one of my rural neighbors had a cross-bred pit that weighed about 40 pounds, that he used to catch belligerent cows, steers, etc. He had brought a bull calf to me, (about 400 lbs.) in payment for some fence I had built for him, and when he released the calf, it took off straight to a hole in the fence, and was immediately loose in the woods. He and his son spent about an hour trying to catch and rope the calf, to no avail, so he resorted to his hole card - the bulldog.

He untied the dog and simply said, "go git 'im." In about two minutes, the calf came running out of the woods, and as soon as he hit the opening, the bulldog ran under him and grabbed him by the nose and backed up between his front legs. The bull calf skidded to a stop and froze in position, his head tucked between his front legs, where the dog was still attached.

Knowing how bulldogs are, I asked him how he was going to get the dog to turn loose. He looked at me with a pained expression, and said, "there's only one way." Then, after his son casually placed a rope around the calf's neck, he bent over and started squeezing the dogs balls with both hands, until he yelped and turned loose to snap at his tormentor. As soon as the dog turned loose, he grabbed his collar, and the dog went back to his normal friendly behavior.

08-19-2009, 04:28 PM

Mr.clean

There are many horror stories.Many dogs,they are after all animals.Humans attack as well,animal instinct.

08-20-2009, 05:55 PM

dosborn

There are good and bad dogs of all breeds. Pits do tend to draw the media's attention more because alot, but not all, of the people that own them are the just as bad.

I just got a red Dobie about 6-7 weeks ago. He is a very intelegent pup (almost 4 months old) but in the wrong hands could be dangerous. His name is Bocephus by the way.:mrgreen: